Transportation

= Transportation =

Observations made from windshield survey:

 * Caracas is a very lively and vibrant city because transportation is very accessible. Cars are numerous in the city, and they range from small, large, old, and brand new. Ford cars are very popular as well as Jeep Cherokee, Trail Blazers, Volkswagens, and Toyota cars to name few. Motorcycles and scooters are also very popular since these vehicles are small enough to drive between cars surpassing all of the traffic. It is very rare to see motorcycles driving in a lane; most of the time they ride between lanes between cars, so drivers of larger vehicles have to be very alert to become aware of their presence. In the United States, a 1960s Chevrolet is quite a collectible that we hope we can afford when we retire, but too many families in Caracas, it is simply the family car that they have had for years because they cannot afford a new car. Buying car parts in Caracas is nearly an impossibility. The Country is not importing as many car parts as they need to in order to meet demands. This is a major frustration. Besides cars, transportation in Caracas also includes city buses. There must be thousands of buses and bust stops in the country that meet the needs of millions of people. These buses are very popular with the poor and middle class because of the inexpensive prices; however, these buses are old and dirty. Taxi cabs are also plentiful and very convenient. Each town within the city has several taxi lines for people to call and request a cab; however, this mode of transportation is much more expensive than taking a bus. The metro or subway is another option for travelling; however, you must understand that there will be no respect for your personal space as the metro tends to be overly crowded. All in all, it is not a necessity to own a car since public transportation offers multiple services.

Observations made from windshield survey:

 * The roads of Caracas are very dangerous. One of the reasons for this is because the roads are in poor condition. The roads are extremely bumpy and strewn with potholes of various sizes. Many people do not like to drive through the potholes, so they swerve their cars into oncoming traffic in order to avoid driving through the pothole. The roads are made with bad quality pavement and become very dangerous when it rains. The roads are not constructed well and every so often they begin to sink into the ground or off the side of the mountain, and it takes weeks to months to repair them. The lanes of the roads are very narrow making it difficult to drive; additionally the roads are very curvy with only a few locations with straight paths.

Observations made from windshield survey:

 * Sidewalks are present in Caracas and are very crucial for those using public transportation. However, most of the time they are very uneven and difficult to walk on. Some nicer areas of the city have well constructed and smooth sidewalks. Much of the time when there are sidewalks present, the people do not use them; instead they choose to walk in the road. Since many people live in apartments, and apartment buildings have enforced strict rules about not walking dogs in the residential yard, many people walk their dogs on the sidewalks and allow them to use the bathroom there; it is very important to watch where your step!
 * The only walking trails I saw are the hiking trails that lead up the mountain El Avila. Some of the universities including Universidad Central de Caracas have a track and field that is open to the public to use for walking, running, and exercising.
 * Biking is a major pastime in the eastern part of the city, mainly on Saturdays and Sundays, both in the day time and evening. Teams of bikers enjoy riding on the back roads over the mountains and hills. A large pickup truck transports 15-20 bikes up to the top of the hill where the activity begins. Biking on these back roads can be very dangerous as cars drive these narrow, winding roads trying to doge potholes and biker riders.

More Transportation Information

 * Maiquetia Airport:
 * On the coast
 * 10 miles by road from Caracas
 * Modern superhighway and two long tunnels through the mountains that lead from Caracas to Maiquetia
 * Two smaller airports
 * La Carlota
 * Francisco de Miranda
 * Natural seaports for Caracas
 * La Guaira
 * Puerto Cabello
 * Handle most of the import and export trade of Caracas
 * Transportation within the city
 * Large number of buses, private automobiles, and taxis
 * During rush hours, these modes of transportation clog the streets in what has become an increasing problem of traffic congestion
 * Modern subway system which was established in 1983
 * System of autopistas
 * Multi-lane divided highways extending east and west through the valley and connecting the city with interior locations
 * Railroads have been abandoned
 * The most urgent transportation need is improved communication with the Caribbean coast, either by adding lanes to the existing autopista to La Guaira or by building an additional route further eastward
 * (Aguilar-Cauz & Safra, 536)

The metro or subway in Caracas

Metrobus which takes passengers to the nearest metro/subway station

Maiquetia Airport along the Caribbean coast

Bus in Caracas

A road in Caracas

__References:__
Aguilar-Cauz, J, & Safra, J.E. (2007). Caracas. In // The new encyclopdedia Britannica: macropedia, knowlege in depth // (Vol. 15, pp. 536). Chicago: Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc.